Perhaps you were in the States at the times, but the origin of otaku was to identify socially inept dudes who live with their parents, post H.S. or college, hole themselves up in their rooms with the PC, video games, kiddie porn, manga (including sexy manga character dolls) and Cup Noodle.

Unable to connect with anyone in the real world, at some point, some of them act out their depraved fantasies by killing children, young ladies (often in serial fashion) or their overbearing moms.

Over here the word ‘otaku’ is roughly equivalent. First used for animation/manga comic ‘nerds’, eventually embraced and used with pride in their culture. I proudly identify as a ‘music otaku!

]]>By: Ara Just Fairhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315798
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 21:43:18 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-315798I call my wife’s group of friends the “nerd herd.” Geeks are more spazzy. In any event they both should be wary of the “hoods.” Those were the jean jacket wearing smokers back in my burbs in the 80′s.
]]>By: Ken Arnesonhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315795
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 20:46:49 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-315795To me, a nerd and a dork and a dweeb are almost synonyms of each other as an awkward type of person, but a geek is something different. A geek is someone who “geeks out” on a particular subject in depth. They may or may not be awkward at all.

If you say someone’s a “baseball geek”, that person studies baseball in depth, but may be socially and physically normal. A “baseball nerd”, on the other hand, would be a baseball geek who is also awkward in some way.

]]>By: Alex Belthhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315794
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 20:10:42 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-31579416) First time we’ve played it, Weese. Feel free to email more word challenges though. This could be funski.
]]>By: Chyll Willhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315793
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 20:08:22 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-315793My niece usually calls me “stupid”. I guess that’s a combi >;)
]]>By: rbshttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315792
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 20:08:11 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-315792Speaking as someone who works in an office of 150 people where half or more have PhDs in the physical sciences, I see plenty of nerds very day. Some geeks, and few dorks.

Main thing I think of in differentiating between nerds and geeks is that the geeks seem to have a more obvious physical reaction when the discussion goes somewhere that interests them, i.e., “he’s geeking out” or “oh god, he’s having a geekasm.” Seriously, there was one programmer who used to work here who seemed on the verge of an epileptic fit when the topic excited him, and he was the epitome of geek.

Also, I’ve met plenty of female nerds but I can’t recall the last female geek that I met.

]]>By: Benhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315791
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 19:57:34 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-315791Yeah, I’m of the school where nerd and geek are pretty closely related, both having to do with studiosness or passion for a particular subject which makes you slightly uncool. Course uncool is the new cool. But dork, never heard that in a kind way. Maybe playful… But a dad wearing cut-off shorts a la 1980′s Juicy Fruit commercials, and maybe even thinking they’re cool… total dork-a-saurus. and I say that as a owner of such choices.

Can you use the three words to describe 3 roles played by John Cusack?

Sixteen candles – nerd
One crazy summer – dork ?
Say Anything – geek

]]>By: edoubletroublehttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315789
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 19:27:08 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-315789[15] What’s up Ill C. Dude, you’re a BIG fat music nerd. Your shit is still ringin’ in my ears! … Every day in every way, youfeelme?!
]]>By: edoubletroublehttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315788
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 19:23:28 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-315788Al B – is this the first time you’ve played Word Play at the Banter? I love it. You got some funny heads here. Some could call them geeks or nerds but not dorkie, youknowhatimsayin’?!
]]>By: illchemisthttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315787
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 18:50:03 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-315787I think “nerd” carries a studious connotation to it, versus an obsessive one for a “geek” even though the subject of study or fandom can be the same. Since I consider myself a music nerd (and a bit of a baseball nerd, too) I would say that the difference between “nerd” and “geek” can be subtle. A “dork” is someone who is purposely (or maybe accidentally) socially awkward or inept. “Dork” is a harsher term, more like a-hole.
]]>By: GaryfromChevyChasehttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315785
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 18:22:50 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-315785Sorry being late to this thread. I had to go change my pants after reading some of the comments (that makes me a dork I guess).

[1] Living near DC, there is definitely a difference between a geek and a wonk. A wonk is a student of a policy matter, who would like to be a geek, but that means really knowing things of substance instead of arguing about them. Example: Al Gore is a global climate policy wonk, but aspires to be a climate change geek.

[11] The daughter calls me a dork all the time (most recently because I was wearing cut off jean shorts). Never have been called a geek.

Also, I know lots of nerdy little kids who somehow, when they grow up, lose their nerdness.

]]>By: TheGreenManhttp://www.bronxbanterblog.com/2013/10/23/word-play-3/#comment-315780
Wed, 23 Oct 2013 16:26:29 +0000http://www.bronxbanterblog.com/?p=108890#comment-315780If using Sixteen Candles as a point of reference (and why wouldn’t we?), a dork is also a dick.